Posting-tray for machine-bookkeeping



E. L. CATHCART'.

' POSTING TRAY FOR MACHINE BOOKKEEPING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11. 1919.

1,348,085. Patented July 27,1920.

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POSTING TRAY FOR MACHINE BOOKKEEPING.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 17. 1919.

1,348,085. Patented July 27, 1920.

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POSTING TRAY ron MACHINE BOOKKEEPING.

0. w 2 t d M m H w 7 m W m 2 8 U u h I w v w P f m M m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA LYMAN CATHCART, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

POSTING-TRAY FOR MACHINE-BOOKKEEPIN 'G.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it know that I, EZRA L. CATHCART, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Posting-Trays for lilachine-Bookkeeping, of which the following is a specifieationj This invention relates to posting trays and more particularly to an improved apparatus to be used in posting debits and credits on ledger cards or sheets by means of what is known as machine bookkeeping.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will greatly facilitate the posting of the debit and credit and which will obviate the misuse and abuse of the leaves or sheets employed in connection with the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will permit the user to post readily to any letter in the alphabet or to any section of the ledger without previously arranging the. leaves or sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a posting tray arranged so that the cards, leaves, or sheets may be held at a sharp upset so that the user may more readily manipulate the sheet, and which will be equipped with means whereby the operator may offset some of the leaves or sheets with respect to the remainder so that the desired offsetting and upsetting of the leaves is obtained at one operation.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the preferred embodiment and in the accompanying drawings, wherein like charae ters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which Figure 1 is a perspective vview of the device showing certain parts in position for using the device in a certain capacity.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same on the line 22 of Fig. 3, showing the cover in applied position,

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the position of certain parts not used with the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 3 and 4.

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section through the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J ly 27 1920' Application filed July 17, 1919.

Serial No. 311,474.

Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred form of. my invention, in which like numerals of refer ence indicate'like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the tray comprises the casing of box 1 which may be of any desired size and of any desired depth according to the size of the card, sheet or leaves which are to be used with the apparatus. Obviously the device will be readily adapted for use with different systems and by the hinged portion 5 may be readily swung outwardly to the desired angle. This portion forms a front retaining panel, the purpose of which will hereinafter more fully appear. Retaining latches 6 are provided to maintain the front panel 5 at the desired angle and these latches include the blocks 7 which are fixed to the front sur-' face of the panel 5 and which have connected thereto the pivotally mounted latch fingers 8. These fingers 8 are elongated and are provided with the slots 9 having offset depressions 10 any one of which is adapted to receive a laterally projecting pin 11 extending from the side wall as shown to advantage in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. These latch members will permit the front wall 5 to be held at an angle of 65 when at itsoutermost extremity of movement s that the sheets, leaves or cards indicated at A may be held at any desired angle. The panel 5 formed by this front wall serves to support the leaves in the desired angular position.

Y The bottom wall 12 of the tray is elevated above the lower marginal edges of the side and end walls whereby a bottom space 13 is provided. Projecting longitudinally through the space 13 and journaled in the end walls of the tray, is a shaft or operating rod 14, the front end of which projects slightly beyond the front of the tray and is provided with a finger lever 15 whereby the rod 14 may be manually turned or rotated for a purpose which will presently appear.

As shown to advantage in lFig. 3, the rod 14 is provided near each end with a finger 16 and each finger 16 is engageable with a conveniently disposed lift member 17 shown in detail in Fig. 2 of the drawing. This lift member 17 comprises a curved intermediate slots .22 through which the rails 20 project as shown. Inasmuch as the members 16 are engaged with the curved portions 18 of the lift member 17 it will be obvious that when the lever 15 is turned, the members 16 will lift the members 17 whereby the rails 20 will be extended upwardly through the slots 22. These rails may also be disposed below the level of the bottom 12 when the rod 14 is manipulated to swing the members 16 out of engagement with the lift members 17.

Slidably mounted within the casing 1 of the tray is the follow-block 23 which is provided with a downwardly projecting centrally located tongue 24 at the center of its lower edge which extends through the central slot 21. An opening 25 in the tongue permits the rod 14 to be extended through the tongue whereby 'the follow-block may be longitudinally adjusted within the casing to dispose the follow block in any position between the rear wall 2 and the front panel 5. The follow-block 23 is not directly connected with the rod 14 but may be freely moved within the casing to dispose it in any desired position.

Also mounted within the casing-1 of the tray is an upset angle member 29 which may be readily removed from the tray and which is constructed so as to support the leaves 01' sheets in a manner that will sharply upset the upper edges of the leaves whereby they may be more readily manipulated by the user of the apparatus. The upset angle member 29 comprises a supporting panel 30 held at any desired angle and retained in position by the rear ribs or brackets 31, the lower ends of which rest upon the bottom 12. Integrally formed with, or otherwise" suitably secured to the panel 30 is the upset flange 32 which is rigidly maintained at the desired angle by the integrally formed front wall 33 which forms a part of the upset angle member as shown to advantage in Fig. 3 of the applicant s drawing. By means of this sharp upset angle formed between-the proximate faces of the members 30 and 32, the leaves, sheets or cards will be held at an angle so that their upper marginal edges will be upset as shown to advantage in Fig. 1 and as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 thereby permitting the operator to readily manipulate the leaves or sheets. The angle member and the follow block 23 are suitably cut away at their lower edges to allow the lift rails 20 when raised to project above the bottom. The removable cover 34 is simply placed overthe top of the tray'and rests upon the upper edges of the front and rear walls and thus covers the interior of the tray when the same is not in use. This cover may be readily removed and its ends are provided with hand holes 35. The member 29 is also provided with a hand hole 36 whereby it may be readily removed when desired and also to facilitate lifting of the apparatus.

The bottom wall 12 on the top surface thereof, at the outer side of each rail 20, is provided with a strip of felt or other suitable fabric as indicated at 37 and the lower marginal edges of the sheets or leaves rest upon this felt to prevent slipping of the leaves or sheets'when they are placed in position against the angular members. The leaves or sheets'indicated at A are also preferably provided at their lower marginal edges with notches 38 shown to advantage in Fig. 2, these notches being adapted to be engaged by the rails 20. It will be noted from this construction that the sheets will be moved from one side of the cabinet or tray to the other when the offsetting operation is accomplished after the turning of the shaft 14 to lower the rails 20 out of the notches in the sheets. The sheets or leaves are narrower than the width of the tray whereby they may be moved from one side to the other and thus kept in alinement during posting in a manner well known to the users of devices of this character. lVith the arrangement shown in these figures numbered from 1 to 4 inclusive, all debit items and credits, provided the credits are first assorted and put in alphabetical order may be readily posted and as the postings are made, the leaves are placed over against the front panel 5 as shown in Fig. 1. Obviously different methods of moving the leaves may be employed if found desirable.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing I have illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein the sharp upset angle member is .dispensed with and removable angle member employed which is indicated at 27 and which consists of aplate disposed. at an angle of approximately 75 and held in osition by the rear ribs or brackets 28 which rest. upon the bottom wall 12 and maintain the angle member 27 in the desired angular position. This panel is removable and may ,be longitudinally adjusted independently of any ofthe other parts included in the appa ratus, and as shown in Fig. 6, the leaves or sheets may be mounted upon the angle member and the front panel 5 swung to an angular position as shown for use in connection with the member 27. .The device is then ready to post debits or credits in any order desired. The members 27 and 29 are readily removable in order that either one may be substituted as shown for facilitating the use of the device in any capacity desired, and it should be observed that it is not absolutely necessary to entirely remove the removable membersfrom the casing or tray but they may be placed in the rear thereof when sufficient room is foundin order that the parts may be retained in the cabinet for ready access.

The raising and lowering of the rails 20 facilitates proper handling of the sheets or leaves and inasmuch as they are kept in proper alinement when desired and may be readily pushed back to the original position by lowering the rails it will be obvious that the operation of the device will be simple and eflicient. It is also to be noted that by simply turning the lever 15, the shaft or rod 14 will be rotated so that the fingers 16 will be disengaged from the members 17 whereupon the same will be permitted to drop, the rails 20 dropping through the slots 22 thereby disengaging the sheets A.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings have reference to what might be considered to be the approved or preferred forms of my invention. I desire it to be understood that I may make such changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A posting tray comprising a casing having a hingedly mounted front panel, a follow-block mounted within the casing, and adapted to be moved toward and away from the ends thereof, and a freely movable angularly disposed integral upset member mounted within the casing.

2. A posting tray comprising a casing having a hingedly mounted front panel, a follow-block mounted within the casing for longitudinal sliding movement, a longitudinally movable upset angle member disposed within the casing and including a relatively sharp angular portion adapted to support the lower edges of sheets resting on said angle member.

'3. A posting tray comprisin a casing having an adjustable front wal, an upset angular member longitudinally adjustable within the casing, rail members, and manually operated means for lifting the said and means carried by the said rails and engageable with the said rod to permit the raills to be lifted when the said rod is actuate 5. A posting tray comprising a casing having'an elevated bottom wall to provide a lower space, longitudinally movable members disposed above the bottom wall, the said bottom wall having slots formed therein, rails adapted to be raised and lowered to project above and below the bottom wall through the'said slot, and means to raise and lower the said rails. v

6. A posting tray comprising a casing having an elevated bottom wall toprovide a lower'space, longitudinally movable members disposed above the bottom wall, the said bottom wall having slots formed therein, rails adapted to be raised and lowered to project above and below the bottom wall through the said slot, lift members for the rails, a centrally located rod provided with finger members engageable with the said lift members whereby the said rails may be raised when the said rod is actuated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA LYMAN CATHCART. Witnesses:

L. H. LEACH, W. I. FORBES. 

